"Huh?"
Inside the temple, a scene unfolded that he had never imagined.
Tagorihime stood in front of the White Snake Sage, holding up a tray containing fresh blood and some unidentified meat.
The smell Hayashi had just caught probably came from that tray.
Tagorihime did not turn around. The White Snake Sage on the stone platform was about to take a bite when she saw Uzumaki Hayashi push open the door and enter, making her frown.
"Seriously, you little brat. I'm eating. Why are you barging in so rudely?"
Wait.
Tagitsuhime just told me to come plead for her.
That smell threw me off, too. Of course I rushed in.
The White Snake Sage stared at Hayashi for a while, then gave an "Oh," as though she had figured something out.
Then she chuckled.
"Fool. Why would I really punish a confidante who has been with me for so long just because of you?"
"You think far too highly of yourself, you little brat."
Only after hearing that did Hayashi instinctively rub the back of his head and give an embarrassed laugh.
"Haha... I forgot."
At the same time, he silently grumbled:
How did I forget that the Sage can read minds, too... Seriously...
The White Snake Sage seemed disinclined to bother with Hayashi. She merely gestured with her tail for Tagorihime to put the tray elsewhere.
Tagorihime obeyed, quickly setting down the tray before coming to stand beside Hayashi.
Only then did the White Snake Sage seem fully satisfied. She flicked her tail and looked at Uzumaki Hayashi.
"Raise your head, you little brat. More importantly, show me your Sage Mode."
"Sure thing! Let me show you the Sage Mode I just achieved!"
Dense Senjutsu energy rose around Hayashi again. Specks of starlight seemed to float within his dragon